Lock for switches and the like



0. F. CONKLIN.

LOCK FOR SWITCHES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED NOV 29. 1916.

1,391,940, PatentedSept. 27, 1921.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 1 ,229. ,1.

2 SHEETS-SHEETQ.

Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

0.F,CONKHN LO CK FOR. SWITCHES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILEQ NOV- 29, I9y6.

III/l OLIVER I. CONKLIN, OF DETROIT, MICHI GAN, ASSIGNOR T0 REMY ELECTRIC con:-

PA Y, or ANnEnsoN, INDIANA, A CORBORATION or INDIANA.

LOCK FOR SWITCHES AND THE LIKE,

- Application filed November T 0 all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER F. CoNKLIN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and tate of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Locks for Switches and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for locking controlling devices, as for example the ignition and lighting switches, such as are used on automobiles.

WVith many of the previous locking devices, such as have been used on automobiles to lock electric switches, it has been the practice to use a construction in which it was necessary-to leave the key in the look when the switch was unlocked. This has been found to be a disadvantage for various reasons. car is frequently driven for considerable periods with no locking of the switch, and the fact that it was always necessary in these switches to leave the key in the lock, except when the has caused many to become prejudiced against the use of a lock switch.

Another disadvantage of this form of lock switches has been the fact that the key was very likely to fall out of the lock and become lost when the switch was in unlocked condition.

The object of the present invention resides in the provision of a device for locking controlling devices, having a construction whereby it is possible to lock the controlling device and then remove the key or to unlock the controlling device and remove the key. Or if desired the'key may be left in the lock in either locked or unlocked position. When it is desired to so leave the key in thelock means are provided whereby the keymay be retained in the lock and prevented from falling out and becoming lost. The key may be so retained in the lock in either locked or unlocked position.

Further objects reside in the provision of a locking device, which is-simple in its construction, cheap to manufacture, and not lik ly to et out of order when in'use. Other dbj-ects will be pointed out, in detail,

Specification of Letters Patent.

switch is locked,

Patented Sept. 27, 1921. 29, 1916. Serial No. 134,000.

of my improved device as applied to an electric Fig. 4 is another rear View, similar to Fig.

2, but with moved. 5 is a sectional view through one of the switch devices.

Figs. 6 and 7 are details showing the contact devices. Fig. 8 is a'detail view mg; parts 1g. 9 1s a sectional view showing the cooperation of the part shown in Fig. 6, with the barrel of the lock and with the arms which lock the switches.

In more detail, the device, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, is provided with two switch levers 15 and 16, 15 is for the ignition and 16 for controlling-the various lights upon the machlne.

The body of the front face plate 10,

one of the operating parts reof one of the operatswitch comprises the casing 11, inner front plate 12, and rear terminal plate 13. The

latter plate or block is made of insulating material and is secured to the inner plate 12 by suitable'screws (see Figs. 3 and 5).

There are two switches one for lights and the other for ignition, and as they are practically identical only one will be described. here is one switch lever 15 for the lights and another 16 for the ignition. These levers have shank rtions 17, which are suitabl journaled' in plate 12, and which have sleeves have a portion cut away to cooperate with pins 18 and switches. Attached are the multipolar contact pieces 20 and bosses 21. These annular bosses fit in recesses in the rear terminal block 13 and form a rear bearing for the key lever shanks. The

bosses and contact pieces are in sulatedfrom shown in'full lines in fin er plate (see Fig.

- I switch, levers,

actuating member 37.

each other and form the shanks by insu1at in washers 22. Embedded .in the inner surface of the block 13 are a number of contact plates 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. Plate 23 is connected to a suitable terminal to which a source of electricity as a battery is attached. The other blocks have corresponding terminals, which lead to the various lightin and ignition circuits. By moving the switcii levers the zmultipolaic contact blades are brought into contact with both the common terminal block 23 and the other blocks, and in this way various combinations of circuits may be established. When in mid position,

as shown in Fig. 1, all circuits are broken,

and both light and ignition are shut off.

' Switch lock.

30 represents the barrel of a cylinder lock which constitutes the movable key controlled member. The lock has a double throw so that, after the-insertion of the key, while the key slot is vertical, the key can be turned either to the left or to the ri ht, thus disposing the key slot at an ang e to the left or right of the vertical. The key can only be removed from thelock when the key slot is in vertical position.

Loosely journaled upon the barrel 30 is a finger vplate 31, constituting the locking bolt member, and having projecting fingers 32 extending therefrom. These endsof these fingers are hooked, as shown at 33, and these hooked ends are adapted to swing into or out of recesses 34 in the shank portions 17 of the switchlevers. When the hooked ends are swung into the recesses, as Fig. 4, the switch levers are locked, and when swung to the dotted line positionthe switches are unlocked, as will be readily understood. order to retain the fin er plate in in or out position, I provi e a blade spring 35, which is adapted to engage one or the other of two notches 36- in tgle periphery of the 11 order to rock the finger plate or lockiQg boltmember and efiect the locking of the I. provide an intermediate This intermediate actuating member 37' 's provided with a central vertical slot 38, in which fits a rec tangular. lug 39 on the rear of, the cylinder lock barrel. The actuating member is also held in position on the. barrel by screws 39, which pass through a washer 40 (see Figs. 2 and 9).. The actuating member is provided with lugs 41, which project to the side of theactuating member and arein cooperative position with fingers 32,}.of the finger plate. There is a pair of lugs for each finger, and the two lugs of each pair are so spaced that the actuating member may move without moving the finger plate. In order to retain the actuating member in any one tained in the lock and ,To withdraw the key when the switch is of a number of positions, I provide a blade spring 42, which is adapted to engage in any one of the three notches 43, 44 or 45 in the periphery of the actuating member.

Operation of the lock device.

clockwise, blade spring 42 dropping into recess 45. The lugs 41, in the meantime, have forced the finger plate clockwise to the dotted line position in Fig. 4 with blade spring 35 in notch 36.

The. switch levers are now unlocked, but it is impossible to withdraw the key from the barrel. This is the key is left if it is desired to leave the key in the lock and yet prevent its falling out and becoming lost. f it is desired to remove the key from the lock and leave the switch unlocked the key is turned back to the center position, and the barrel 3O swings counter-clockwise until blade spring 42 snaps into the center notch 44- of actuating member 37. No movement has been imarted by the actuating member 37 to the nger plate 31 on account of the spacing of lugs 41, and this finger' plate retained in its former osition by blade spring 35 resting in' note 36. The switch levers are still unlocked, and it is possible to remove the key from the lock.

If it is desired to again lock the switch levers, barrel 30 is turned by the key coun-' ter-clockwise. The lugs 41 again contact with the fingers 32 and rotate the finger plate counterclockwise into locking position, blade spring 35 dropping into notch 36 and retaining the fingerplate in locked position. In this position the key is rethe switch is locked.

locked the key is'turned in reverse direction to vertical position. This movement of the key leaves the switch in locked condition and the key soon'as it is in vertical position.

One of the advantages of the construction shown, is that when one of the switches is not in exact locking position, the key can still be turned to locked position. Then the slightest movement of the switch handle will cause the finger arm to drop 1n the recess and lock the lever.

I have described but one looking recess in each shank portion. It is apparent, however, thata number of recesses may be desirable for the lighting switch. or example, there could be an extra recess, such as 34, in the lighting switch shank, so that the position in which may be withdrawn as on with l the ignition side of switch alone be locked.

These and other modifications will occur to those skilled the art, and it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise form shown and described.

While the disclosed embodiment of my invention shows the locking device as applied to an electric switch, it is to be understood that the locking device could be applied as well to other contro g devices.- While the form of mechanism herein shown described constitutes a preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it is to be understoodthat other forms might be adopted, coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim 1:

1. Ina lock for locking controlling devices in switches and the like having movable controlling elements, the combination with a movable key controlled member; of means coiiperating therewith for looking or unlocking said elements when the key controlled member is moved to key retaining position, said means having provisions whereby the key controlled member may be restored to position for key removal while the controlling elements remain unlocked; and leaf spring means for yieldingly maintaining the key controlled member in key retaining position.

2. In a lock for locking vices in switches and the like having movable controlling elements, the combination with a bolt member for engaging and looking the controlling elements; key operated means movable upon a partial revolution of the key to key retaining position, whereby to move the bolt member to unlocked position, said means having provisions permitting the same to be restored to key removal position while the bolt member remains in unlocked position; and leaf spring means for yieldingly maintaining the key operated means in key retaining position.

3. In a lock for locking controlling devices in switches and the like having movable controlling elements, the combination with a key per'ated cylinderlock barrel; of a rotatable locking bolt member loosely mounted on the barrel and adapted to engage ;and lock the controlling elements; an intermediate member mounted on the bar rel and having lugs adapted to engage the bolt member and move the same to locked or unlocked position when the barrel is moved to key retaining position, said 111 being spaced so as to permit restoring t e barrel to he. removal". position without disturbin the locked or unlocked positions of the bot member; and

controlling demeans for yiel linglymaintaining its positions.

4. In a lock for locking controlling devices in switches and the like having movable controlling elements the combination with a key' operated cylinder lock barrel; of a rotatable locking bolt member loosely mounted on the barrel and adapted to em gage and lock the controlling elements; means for yieldingly maintaining the bolt said bolt member in either of member in either of its locked or unlocked positions; an intermediate member mounted on the barrel and having lugs adapted 'to engage the bolt member and to move the same to locked or unlocked position when the barrel is turned to key retaining posi tlons, sald lugs being spaced so as to permit restoring the barrel to key removal position without disturbing the locked or unlocked positions of the bolt member and means for yieldingly maintaining the barrel in key retaming positions.

5. In a lock ,for locking controlling devices in switches and the like having movable controlling elements, the combination with a locking bolt member adapted to engage and lock the controlling elements; of means for yieldingly maintaming said bolt member in either locked or unlocked position; key controlled means movable into kev' retaining positions whereby to efi'ect the movement of said bolt member into its said positions, said key controlled means having provisions permitting the same to return to position for key removal without disturbing the bolt member; and means for yieldingly maintaining the key controlled means in key retaining position.

6. In a lock for locking controlling devices in switches and the like, the combination with a movable key controlled element and a stationary member permitting the removal of a key from the key controlled element when moved to ke removal position and retaining the key w on the key controlled element is moved in either direction from key removal position; of means for yieldingly maintaining the key controlled member in key removal position or in ke retaining positions slightly displaced in e1ther direction from key removal position; and locking rovisions capable of being moved into ibcked or unlocked positions by the movement of said key controlled member into one or the other of saidkey retaining positions, said provisions including means permitting the restoring of the key controlled member to key removal position while said locking provisions remain yieldingly maintained in locked or unlocked position.

v 7. In a lock for locking controllin devices in switches and the like, the com ination with a movable key controlled element and a. stationary member permitting the removal of a key from the key controlled element when moved to key removal position and retaining the key when the key controlled element 1s moved in either direction from key removal position; of means for yieldingly maintaining the key controlled member in key removal position or in key retaining positions slightly displaced in either direction from key removalposition; locking provisions capable of being moved into locked or unlocked positions by the movement of said key controlled-member into one or the other of said key retaining positions, said provisions including means permitting the restoring of the key controlled member to key removal position while said locking provisions remain yieldingly maintained in locked or unlocked position; and means for yieldingly maintaining said locking pr0- visions in locked or unlockedpositions.

8. In a lock for locking controlling, devices in switches and the like including a manually operable controlling element movable independently of the lock, the combination with a rotatable bolt member having its axis parallel to the axis of the controlling element but spaced therefrom; of a rotatable key operated member having its axis parallel to the axis of the controlling element but spaced therefrom.

9. In a lock for locking controlling devices in switches and the like including a manually operable controllin element movable independently of the 100 ,the combination with a rotatable bolt member having its axis parallel to the axis of the controlling element but spaced therefrom; of a rotatable key controlled member supporting for rotation said bolt member. I 10. In a lock for lockin vices in switches and the li e table controllin element, the combination with a rotatable olt member having its axis parallel to the axis of the controlling element; of a key 0 erated cylinder lock barrel upon which said olt member is loosely journaled; and an intermediate member attached to said barrel and havin provisions cooperating with said bolt mem er for moving said bolt member to locked or to unlocked position whenthe barrl is moved to key retaining position, said rovisions permitting the restoration of the arrel to key removal position while permitting the bolt member to remain in locked or unlocked position.

11.'In a lock-for lockingcontrolling devices in switches and the like having movable controlling elements, the combination with a locking bolt member adapted toengage and lock the controlling elements; of means for yieldingly maintaining said .bolt

member in either locked or unlocked position and key controlled means movable into key retainin positions whereby to efiect the movement 0 said bolt member into its positions, said key controlled means having provisions permitting the same to return to position for key removal without disturbing the bolt member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

OLIVER F. CONKLIN.

controlling dehaving a rota-- 

